Scrambling to Prepare

Although it may still feel like summer in parts of the country, many enterprising small business owners are gearing up for the holidays. For some, such as the Parker family, Christmas means a surge of tradition. Their Claxton Fruit Cake bakery has been going full throttle since August, producing 5 million pounds of fruitcake that will be distributed to retailers nationally. For other entrepreneurs, the holidays are a chance to get creative. Stationery designer Jean Orlebeke found inspiration for her line of unconventional holiday paper in her recent travels through Morocco. Traditional or modern, the following six businesses are preparing for success this season.